PTO Rear mounting

Abstract

A lawn and garden-size tractor including a transmission having a PTO output shaft and a drive shaft. The drive shaft is coupled to a differential gearing arrangement located in a transverse axle casing. The transverse axle casing has geared shafts oriented in relationship to one another to allow the axle casing to assume a posture whereby a PTO system may be mounted thereto such that the PTO tube location will be in compliance with ASAE standards without increasing the height of the rear portion of the tractor. The posture of the transverse axle casing further allows the inclusion in the PTO system of a gear reducing arrangement to bring the PTO output in compliance with the ASAE standard of 2000 revolutions per minute (RPM).

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination with a lawn and garden-size tractor including a transmission, a transmission output shaft in communication with the differential section of a transverse axle, said differential section located centrally along the longitudinal center line of said tractor, said differential sections being housed in a casing and including a plurality of geared shafts extending parallel and transversely within said casing communicating said transmission with said differential gear arrangement within said casing, said transmission having a PTO drive shaft extending therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises: a first of said geared shafts in driven communication with said transmission output shaft, a second geared shaft to be placed vertically downward of said first geared shaft, said differential gear arrangement to be horizontally removed towards the rear of said casing to allow said casing to form a recess in the rear portion of said casing; a PTO coupled to said PTO drive shaft; support means for rotatably supporting said PTO shaft, said support means being detachably mounted in said recess; gear reducing means including a PTO output tube in driven communication with said PTO shaft and detachably mounted to the back of said casing for controlling the output of said PTO tube, said PTO tube being located centrally along the longitudinal center line of said tractor for providing output rotational rate of said PTO different from the rotational rate of said PTO shaft. 
     
     
       2. A tractor as claimed in claim 1 further including clutching means interrupting said PTO shaft for selectively coupling and uncoupling said PTO drive shaft to said PTO shaft. 
     
     
       3. In combination with a tractor having a transmission, a transmission output shaft in communication with the differential section of a transverse axle, said differential section located centrally along the longitudinal center line of said tractor, said differential section being housed in a casing and including a plurality of geared shafts communicating said transmission with a differential gear arrangmenet within said casing, said transmission having a PTO drive shaft extending therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises: a first of said geared shafts in driven communication with said transmission output shaft; a second of said geared shafts in driven communication with said first geared shaft; a third of said geared shafts in driven communication with said second geared shaft; a differential gear arrangement in driven communication with said third geared shaft, said differential gear arrangement including a plurality of colinearly aligned wheel shafts extending therefrom, said first geared shaft extending transversely within said casing, said second geared shaft extending parallel to said first geared shaft in said casing and located vertically below said first geared shaft, said third geared shaft extending parallel to said second geared shaft and located vertically below said second geared shaft, said differential gear arrangement is placed such that said wheel shafts extend generally parallel to said third geared shaft and communicate with said third geared shaft such that said casing can assume a low profile having a step recess in said casing located horizontally just beyond said first geared shaft covered by said casing; a generally U-shaped mount having opposing side walls detachably mounted to said casing in said recess; a PTO shaft coupled to said PTO drive shaft and rotatably mounted in one of said side walls; a PTO gear reducing assembly mounted to the back of said casing having a PTO tube located generally along the center line of said tractor; and clutching means for selectively communicating said PTO shaft with said PTO gear reducing assembly whereby said low profile casing permits the PTO tube location to comply with ASAE:S370.1T. 
     
     
       4. A tractor as claimed in claim 2 wherein said clutching means is an electric clutch assembly.